LMS Basic Firing film

I've heard mentioned in a few places that the LMS produced a training film on the basics of steam locomotive firing. Does this still exist - does anyone have it, ideally on a currently accessible medium (VHS or even something digital)? Even the faithful YouTube seems to let me down on this one.

Thanks,
Ben.

 

Don't know if it is the same one, but didn't BR have a film on this subject? Possibly Midland Region with a Standard 5?

 

I've seen one recently, had a commentary that went some thing like 'five shovels every so many minutes does the job' and explained about the colour of the smoke and what it indicates about the steaming, plus a cartoon type movie/drawing showing burnt and unburnt gas from the coal and how to regulate it for maximum efficiency, good stuff. unfortunately its privately owned and I'd like to know how copyrite works to see if its worth enquiring about a copy, sorry to raise your hopes but there must be some about somewhere and if the copyrite has run out , maybe it's possible to get a copy, don't know about this copyrite stuff.

 

I think you are referring to the British Transport Films productioon 'Wash and Brush Up.' Made in the early 50's it features 73020 (with a chime whistle!) when shedded at 6A (Chester). The film takes you through the loco undergoing an X exam from coming on the shed, fire-dropping boiler washout, tube cleaning etc - fire lighting, steam raising and back in traffic.

There is a section on how to fire towards the end of the film but its not the main purpose of the presentation. Facinating stuff - 22 minutes long.

 

The film you are thinking of could be Engine Shed by the LMS, I saw this at the National Film Theatre many moons ago, it was very insistant on saving coal and water. This is the description of it on the BTF website www.britishtransportfilms.co.uk

Engine Shed for example; is a one reel film of do’s and don’ts for railway staff and wastes no time in sugaring the pill. The upper class, positive, authoritarian voice of the commentator exhorts staff not to waste the company’s money.
All mistakes would waste money, and to show them what not to do the film impolitely pictures the men foolishly making one mistake after another, each with its inevitable consequence ‘not good is it’ he says grimly. Using music only at the beginning and in the final sequence of the speeding train.

There is another LMS film shot I think at Wellingborough called Men of the Footplate which shows the progression from cleaner to driver, very good it is to with a sense of humour - sending the cleaner to clean the inside of the chimney etc. This was available on VHS in the Archive Railway Films series (Volume 3)by Transport Video Publishing in the 1990s.

You could try contacting the BTF website to see if they can help at info@britishtransportfilms.co.uk

Cheers
Dave

 

On 'Railfilms' DVD, Steam Memories - LMS Archive Collection, there is 17 minutes of ' Little & Often', which is the one I think you mean. It was filmed aboard a Black Five with a crew in brand new overalls - and the title says it all! Quality is very good.

 

Great film. It's in the "Railway Roundabout" DVD collection.

 

I thought you were going to comment on the bit that said "5 shovel fulls every so many minutes" and remind me that is does not mean my size shovel fulls JTX

 

I remember seeing 'little and often' on my cleaners course and Bob the inspector saying go on, go on as the driver wound the engine into full gear and the commentary saying you only need 1 extra shovel full. Wishful thinking! Its very good at showing what your aiming for though. It was also a group challenge to see if we could decide during the clip when they were on and engine on shed and when they were actually on the move, the trick is to watch the fire.

Chris

 

I haven't actually seen the film, Ian, but, from what I recall, 5 of your shovels put some 200lbs of coal on and just about did the back end on a "Manor." I seem to remember it took me most of the day before I realised why we were blowing off so much. If I ever get booked on the King, I'll remember to ask for you. No skulking around at the back with a green flag for you, my lad!

 

Now you're confusing me even more, JTX! In an earlier post you said

so I looked at my Railway Roundabout DVD's but couldn't find it. Now you're saying that you haven't actually seen it!

 

Possibly talking about two differnt films: there's the 'Railway Roundabout' DVD; and 'Railfilms' DVD, Steam Memories - LMS Archive Collection. I haven't seen the former but suspect the two will be giving the same, absolutely theoretically correct advice.

 

Is 'absoltuely theoretically correct advice' code for talking BS!

 

Yep! I wish I had your way with words!

 

A quick search on Google found this which i think is what you need! http://www.saxoncourtbooks.co.uk/railwaydvds/item17.htm

 

Sorry, Steve. My original reply was to 60017, who was talking about the "Wash and Brush Up" film, which is on the RR DVD. I haven't seen the other film, which was the original subject of this thread. Sometimes, people understand every word I say, it depends how many brandy/champagne cocktails I've had!

Regards,

jtx

Memo to self: Promise me you'll buck up next year.

 

Ish Chrishmash innit? An...an...I'm married...to a woman...'Er name'll come back to me in a minnit. Anyway, jush becaushe I'm nengineman, doeshn't mean I can't be shofish...sopish...so...sod it, posh when the occashion demansh it. I only drink pinsh in pubsh, sho there.

 

Just revisiting this a few months on - many thanks to those who responded to my original post. I did successfully track down "Little and Often" (which was the one I had heard of previously) and also "Wash and Brush Up". I'd still be particularly interested if anyone has either "Engine Shed" or "Men of the Footplate" which were both mentioned by someone above. Both are widely referred to online (including BTF and BFI websites) but neither seem to be on any currently available DVD or other compilation. Can anyone help?

I'm also interested more generally if anyone can suggest other pre-nationalisation or early BR films with footplate footage, either training films or those intended for public viewing, which may be available, as I find these things quite fascinating.

Thanks again,
Ben.

 

It would appear that Archive Railway Films Volumes 1 to 15 are now out of production unfortunately. I have Vols 3, 5 and 13. They are very interesting videos.